Vanity case



Nov. 14, 1939. w, T PARK|N 2,179,669

VANITY CASE Filed April 18, 1936 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,179,669 VANITY CASE Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,131

4 Claims.

This invention relates to vanity cases and the is compact and of pleasing and attractive appearance, which isof strong and durable construction, having but few parts, andwhich is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a case constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the right-hand end (Fig. l) of the case;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the center of the case;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spring for opening the outer cover;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the finger piece and catch for the outer cover; and

.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the catch and actuating means for the inner cover. I

The embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a casing l which may be of any desired size and shape, here shown as being generally rectangular and having a bottom wall 2 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is integral with its curved upstanding front and rear walls 3 and 5, and its end walls 4 (Figs. 1 to 3). The parts preferably are of sheet metal or other material which may be easily shaped or worked and which is capable of receiving and retaining a good surface finish. A hinge 6 supports an outer cover I which carries an inwardly extending lip 40 8 integral with its front edge and, if desired, a

mirror 9 may be built in or otherwise secured to the cover I! in any suitable manner. The

front wall 3 of the casing is formed with a central opening or slot I and its upper edge is 45 formed with an inwardly extending lip ll adapted to engage the corresponding lip 8 on the cover, when closed.

A tray l2 tightly fits within the casing I and is retained in .position by the inwardly extending lip ii and overhanging portions of the hinge 6. The tray 12 is formed with spaced depressions defining inner compartments l and 16 (Figs. 1 and 3). In the embodiment herein shown the compartment [5 is designed to receive a cake or tablet of powder, r'ouge or other cosmetic, and the compartment I6 is designed to hold loose powder. Compartment l6 therefore is provided with a cover I8 which is hinged to the tray between the two compartments, as shown at l3 (Fig. l), and the free edge of the cover is 5 provided with an outwardly projecting lip 20. When in closed position the cover I8 engages a gasket or packing 2| disposed in a pocket 22 (Fig. 3) which extends about the periphery of thecompartment, thus providing a substantially 10 powder-tight seal.

The front edge of the tray is formed with a recess 25 (Fig. 3) in alignment with the opening Win the front wall of the casing, and the rear edge of the tray is formed with an open- 15 ing 21 (Figs. 1 and 3) through which projects an upwardly and outwardly extending curved finger 28 integral with a bowed spring member 29 '(Fig. 4) interposed between the rear edge of the tray l2 and the rear'wall of the casing, as 2 shown in Fig. 3. The spring member 29 is so designed that the finger 28 is at all times yieldingly held in engagement with the lower edge of the cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and when the cover is held closed the spring member is 25 under sufficient compression to swing it to open position if the cover is released.

The cover I is held closed by a latch devic 30 (Fig. 5) interposed between the front edge of the tray l2 and the front wall 3 of the casing 30 (Figs. 1 and 3). The latch device consists of a bowed spring 32 which carries a catch 33 projecting upwardly through the recess 25, and a finger piece 35 which projects outwardly through the opening H], as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The parts are so constructed and arranged that the catch 33 is normally held in a position to engage the lip 8 of the cover I when in closed position, and when the finger piece 35 is pressed inwardly it carries the catch 33 inwardly a dis tance suflicient to release the outer cover I which flies open under the action of the spring 23.

Between the compartment l6 and the edge of the tray I2 adjacent to the side wall 4, the tray is provided with a slot 38 (Figs. 1 and 2) through which projects a catch 4| forming part of a locking device 40 (Fig. 6). The locking device 40 consists of anelongate piece of metal shaped to define an actuating bar 42 having a hooked end 5 or finger 43. The opposite end of thebar 42 is provided with an extension and its center carries the catch 4| and also a laterally extending lug or runner 45 which supports the device for sliding movement across the bottom of the casing l between the compartment l6 and the side wall 4. The parts are so designed that when assembled within the casing, the catch 4| is engageable with the lip 2|] to hold the inner 5 cover locked and the finger 43 projects outwardly through a vertical slot 41 (Fig. 3) formed in the rear wall of the casing l beneath the hinge 6, and embraces the lower part of the hinge. A coil spring 48 (Fig. 2), carried by the extension 44, acts against the front wall 3 of the casing and normally holds the catch 4| in a position to lock the inner cover l8, as shown by the full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. l

When the parts are in closed position, as shown in 'Fig. 2, both the inner cover and'the outer cover are locked or latched. The outer cover is opened by depressing the finger piece 35 and releasing the catch 33. The first part of the opening movement of the outer cover to substantially 2o upright position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, has no effect on the lock M of the inner cover since the outer cover has not yet engaged and operated the finger 43. Continued opening movement of the outer cover to fully open position, indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1, causes the lower margin of the rear wall of the outer cover to press against the finger 43 and force the sliding bar 42 inward against the tension of spring 48, thereby moving the catch 4! to the broken line position (Fig. 2) and so releasing the inner cover Hi. When the outer cover is again closed the spring 48 restores the slide bar 42, catch 4| and finger 43 to their normal positions.

From the foregoing it is apparent that in a case constructed in accordance with the present invention, the inner cover can not be accidentally released and, even though the outer cover has been released, accidentally or otherwise, the inner cover will still remain closed until the outer cover has been fully opened so as to efiect the actuation of the releasing bar 42 which operates the catch for the inner cover.

It will further be noted that a vanity case constructed in accordance with the present invention embodies a minimum number or parts which-may be quickly assembled and which do not require the use of fastening eQements or means other than those forming a irt of the structure in order to hold them in operative position.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape,

proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, my be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A casing comprising an upstanding side wall having an opening therein, an outer cover for closing an outer compartment hinged to said side wall, an inner cover within the casing for closing an inner compartment, a catch for releasably locking said inner cover in closed position, and an actuating element associated with said catch and extending through said opening to a position engageable with said outer cover, when swung to an open position, to efiect the release of said catch..

2. A casing, having an upstanding wall with an opening therein, an outer cover hinged to said wall, an inner cover within said casing for closing an inner compartment, and an actuating member including a catch for releasably locking the inner cover in closed position, said member extending through said opening and being engageable' with said outer cover, when swung to an open position, to efiect the release of said catch.

3. A casing having an upstanding wall provided w th an opening, an outer cover for said casing hinged to said wall, an inner compartment, an inner cover for said compartment, a releasable catch for locking said inner cover, and an inwardly movable actuating bar for effecting the release of said catch, said bar having a hooked end which extends through said opening. said outer cover when swung to open position being operative to engage said hooked end an to move said bar inwardly, thereby to effect the release of said catch.

4. A casing having an upstanding wall with an opening therein, an outer cover hinged to said wall, an inner cover within said casing for closing an inner compartment, and an actuating member including a catch for releasably locking the inner cover in closed position, said member extending through said opening and being engageable with said outer cover, to effect the release of said catch, said member being so constructed and arranged that during the first part of the opening movement of said outer cover it is ineffective to release said catch, but during the final opening movement it is operative to release said catch.

WINFRED T. PARKIN. 

